Search Results: HISTORY from E C Books

London: Printed for J Hartley, A Gibson; and Tho. Hodgson, 1702 A fair copy of the 1st edition in contemporary panelled calf. The binding is complete but very worn with splitting at the joints; a lot of wear and loss to spine ends and corners; and leather surface loss to the boards. There is the armorial bookplate of Strickland Freeman Esq of Fawley Court, Bucks, 1810 to the front pastedown endpaper. Strickland Freeman was a landowner and sportsman, and author of a number of works on horsemanship. Contents with title; dedication 4pp; preface 2pp; introduction 7pp; text pp 1-122; voyage to I-Columb pp 123- 144; title A Short Dissertation by Thomas Brown and text 147-175; errata; advert on final page. The contents are very clean and sound with lightly toned paper. There is occasional scholarly annotation.

LONDON: Printed for Captain Wilson and sold by G Nicol, 1789 A good copy of this famous account, first published a year earlier in 1788. With 17 plates, 12 of which are folding. In a good half leather binding - the spine has a red leather title label and gilt compartments and is newer than the marbled boards. The newer leather is in very good condition; the boards have wear, particularly to edges. All page edges are gilt. There is an ink signature on the front pastedown - ? Mr Dickinson, Thorncroft Workington and then Cornsickle, Whitehaven 1882. With frontispiece portrait of Captain Wilson, title page (with small pencil note), dedication, folding chart of the Pelew Islands, Introduction, contents list and text including 7 plates of objects, 3 additional portraits, 3 views, 1 large folding view and 1 plan. The frontispiece and title page have some spotting and there is a little worming to the bottom in the gutter. P 215 has a small area of loss to the outer edge. Otherwise, the text pages are… Read More

London: Jacob Tonson, 1700 A very good copy of what is probably the earliest published account of the Orkney Islands, in contemporary full leather binding, with newer spine, and with folding map and plate. The work was originally written by James Wallace (1642-1688) who was a Minister - initially in Ladykirk and then Kirkwall. The manuscript, complete with his drawings, was prepared for publication after his death by one of his sons - also James - who was a botanist. It was published in 1693 under the title of 'A description of the Isles of Orkney', and included an essay on Thule credited to Sir Robert Sibbald. This account was published by James 7 years later, under his own name (and claiming the title of FRS - although he did not hold it). It is largely the same as the previous work, but it adds a section on plants and shells. It was dedicated to the Earl of Dorset and mentions neither his father, nor Sir Robert Sibbald. So this book, although the first to be called 'An Account' is largely a 2nd… Read More

London: T Cadell Jun. and W Davies, in the Strand, 1802 A very good copy of Martin Sauer's account of the Joseph Billings expedition to Northern Russia. Commodore Billings was commissioned by Catherine the Great to head the expedition, which took nine years, returning in 1794 with extensive data and mapping from the region, and enhanced knowledge of local populations. Martin Sauer was the Secretary and translator and agreed to join the party on the basis that he could write and publish an account of the travels. This he did when he came to England and it forms the first and only English edition. It relies mainly on the official journal and his own notes. This copy is in a new half calf binding with marbled boards. The spine has a title label and decorative gilt ruled bands. New endpapers. Contents: half title; large folding map; title; preface pp vii-xiv; explanations xv-xvi; contents xvii-xxvi; errata - 1p; text pp 1-332 with 14 black and white plates; appendices pp 1-58; The End. The appendices… Read More

Stromness: Printed by Wm Rendall for Orkney Natural History Society, 1903 The introduction states that this Account was first read to the Orkney Natural History Society in February 1902 and was printed and published at their request. It has been bound in blue buckram with gilt titles to spine and front board. The binding is in very good clean condition. There is the bookplate of John Davie Manson Robertson, a noted collector of Orcadian works, to the front pastedown. Contents with new endpapers, original blanks, title, introduction and text pp 1-18 with 4 full page illustrations. Contents in very good to near fine clean condition.

Dublin: James Williams , 1775 A fair copy of Vol II of the 2nd Dublin Edition, rebound in quarter cloth with marbled boards, with 2 single and 2 folding plates. There is a sad ink note on the verso of the initial blank to the effect that Vol I was lent to the original owner's friend Mr Robert Barber, but was lost when his ship - The Ville de Paris - sank on her voyage home. The binding has a leather title label on the spine and is in very good clean condition with light wear to edges. The endpapers have been replaced. The initial blank has been retained with tissue reinforcement. Contents: title; contents 7pp; text pp 1-539 with 2 single and one folding plate - finis; title to Voyage to North Pole; dedication 2pp; text pp 5-49 with one folding plate - finis. This copy collates with that held by the Hathi Trust, but there are remnants of paper between pp 12-13 of North Pole - this may be a tie but we have seen reference in another copy to a map. The paper is quite fragile and both title pages have lost… Read More

Antverpiae [Antwerp]: Ex officina Christophori Plantini Architypographi Regii, 1580 An extremely scarce original copy in soft cover vellum binding, printed and published by Christopher Plantin and with his printer's device on the title page. This work is a contemporary account of events in the Netherlands during the period of armed rebellion against the rule of Philip II of Spain and its subsequent repression. The activities of Mathias (Holy Roman Emperor), who was invited to be Governor of the Netherlands in 1577, in promoting a Catholic revival have been said to be contributory to the Thirty Years War. The work was edited by Aggaeus Van Albada, an extremely able who was principal speaker for the Netherlands at the peace talks that followed the rebellion. Christopher Plantin, whose major printing house was in Antwerp, suffered personally in the conflict - only saving his business from destruction by paying ransoms to the Spanish soldiers. This copy is in a full vellum soft binding. The boards… Read More

Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed for the Author, 1788 A very good copy of the scarce 1st edition. Written as a protest - the author's preface states 'the design of publishing....is rather to make more clearly known the hardships and unconstitutional government of this Burgh'. Eunson has an interesting history: some accounts state that he was a smuggler who turned 'gamekeeper' being made an Officer of Excise by an influential patron. His zeal made him enemies who then had him arrested and locked up. The book is said to be his revenge and he does not hold back - accusing the nobility of rigging elections in favour of their cronies; and that the legal profession were involved in smuggling. This copy is in a half leather binding with gilt lining and title label to spine and marbled boards. The spine and corners are new with the original marbled paper. It is therefore sound and tight. Paper has some scuffing. There is an ink note at the front endpaper. Contents: blank; title page; dedication; general preface… Read More

Londini [London]: Guilielmi Stansbij,Impensis Simonis Watersoni, 1615 2 volumes bound in one, in contemporary full leather binding, 1615 and 1627 respectively. 1st edition of Annales and 1st London edition of Tomus Alter. The binding retains the original boards and spine which has been rebacked, retaining the title label. It is slightly worn at the top of the spine joint with the front board and there is wear to corners with some loss of leather. Internally there is a label of Wimbledon College Community Library pasted to the rear of the front board and a small circular stamp of 'The Sacred Heart, Wimbledon' at the side of the Annales title page together with a very faint signature at the top. Contents: 2 blanks; title page; Lectori 6pp; Apparatus pp 1-15; Pars Prima pp 17-20; Pars Secunda pp 171-314; Pars Tertia pp 315-459; Index 20pp; Title page Tomus Alter; tribute to Camden 2pp; Pars Quarta p 1-186; Index 10pp; blank. All with decorative head and tail pieces and initial capitals. Generally… Read More

Edinburgh : Printed for the Society, 1792 A very good complete set in 5 volumes, dated from 1792 to 1890 in matching nineteenth century half morocco with textured cloth bindings. Profusely illustrated and with a wide variety of important papers on the archaeology and history of Scotland. The bindings have 5 raised bands with 6 gilt decorative compartments of which 2 have title and volume details. They are all in very good to near fine clean condition with some light scuffing. Vol V has a slightly different paler textured cloth to the boards. Top page edges reddened. All have the decorative bookplate of David Murray to the front pastedown endpaper and Vol I has a couple of pasted catalogue entries for the work plus Murray's signature and an older note at the front endpapers. Contents: - Vol I: advert for the Society tipped in pre initial blank; title, contents listing 12pp; historical account by Smellie with statutes, membership details and errata list pp iii-xxxxiv; text 570pp with 7 plates of which 1… Read More

At the Sun over against St Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet: Printed by William Wilson, for Abel Roper, 1648 A fair copy of an extremely scarce work. Thomas Overbury (1581-1613) is best known for the scandal surrounding his death by poisoning in the Tower, and the trial that followed it some 2 years later. He studied Law in 1598, was knighted in 1608 and was known as a writer and poet. His account of the arraignment and trial of Raleigh is assumed to be written as an eye-witness. Raleigh was tried in 1603 and convicted of treason. His sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment and he was later briefly released, before being imprisoned and retried in 1618. This trial reinstated his death sentence, albeit by less gruesome means. The book contains Overbury's account of the first trial; an account of the second trial (no author named); and Raleigh's letters to the King and to his wife before his death. The binding is more recent full panelled calf with title label to spine, matching a… Read More

Explorations Ltd, 1973 A very good copy of the scarce 1st limited edition - no 458 of 500 copies - signed by the author. In the original yellow light card binding which is secured by staples. The binding is clean with a slight crease at the bottom corner of the front cover and very light turning to corners. Couple of small spots on the back cover. Cover just starting to escape from top staple. Internally there is a pencil ownership signature at the front. Contents are very clean - the staples are a bit rusty but have not coloured the surrounding paper.

Edinburgh: William Brown, 1883 A good copy of the limited facsimile edition of John Brand's work which was first published in 1701. Limited to 157 copies, of which 148 were for sale. This is copy 1. The plain cloth binding is sound, but with marking and there is wear to spine and cloth fraying to corners. It has the original title label. The contents are in very good clean condition. The contents are a replica of the 1701 work, with the addition of a small advert for Haco's Expedition on an initial blank, and a 2 page introduction from the publisher. The text has been printed on hand-made paper and page edges are untrimmed. 4 pages have some light brown toning. Preliminaries pp 1-18; text 1-240 with appendix 241-147.

Edinburgh: George Mosman, 1701 A good to very good copy of the scarce 1st Edition of John Brand's account of Orkney and Shetland at the start of the eighteenth century. John Brand was a Minister and was appointed to join a delegation to the Northern Isles in 1700/01. As a Minister he had a particular interest in religious affairs, but the book contains rare accounts of the population, land use, occupation and social life. The book is in a later full calf 1800's binding with gilt lines, date and title label to spine. There is wear to the joints and to the top and bottom of the spine, but it is sound and clean. There is some corner wear. Internally there is the bookplate of John Davie Manson Robertson, a noted Orcadian, to the front pastedown. Contents: later endpapers; title page with printer's device and 3 light ink signatures; dedication 6pp; preface to Reader 3pp; Contents 1p; text pp 1-159; Appendix 4pp; Finis. The paper is brown-toned but the contents are generally very clean. In… Read More

LONDON: Tho Roycroft for Richard Blome, 1673 A fair copy of the 1st edition sadly lacking all but 2 of the maps. This work is rare. Richard Blome was heavily criticised at the time for producing the work - being accused of plagiarising Camden and Speed. He funded the work through subscribers but clearly sold few copies and ownership of it passed to John Wright in 1677. His work is now being reassessed and he is recognised for being the first to properly plan an illustrated description of London. This copy is in contemporary full leather binding which has been rebacked reasonably recently to provide a new spine with raised bands and gilt outlined title label. The boards have wear as you would expect - particularly to the corners - but are sound. With title page in red and black inks, dedication to Charles II, Preface to the Reader, alphabetical table of subscribers ('benefactors'), 12 leaves of coats of arms of the benefactors, portrait of Charles II pasted at the beginning of a general… Read More

London : Mary Matthews, for Awnnsham Churchill , 1722 A very good copy of Camden's Britannia, revised by Edmund Gibson, and published in 2 volumes in contemporary full leather binding. Page edges pale yellow. With 51 maps (48 by Robert Morden and 3 by Andrew Johnstone), 9 plates of coins, 2 further full page plates and numerous illustrations in the text. The tree calf bindings have raised bands to spine and title and volume labels. There is some wear to edges and some scuffing to the boards - the back board of Vol I and the front board of Vol II. There is a small (2 cm approx) split at the top of the front spine joint in Vol I. There is no corresponding split internally and the board is firmly attached. The contents are generally in very good clean condition with the very occasional mark. Vol I: frontispiece; title page in red and black inks; Dedication 4pp; Preface 2pp; Mr Camden's Preface 4pp; Poems 1p; Ad Lectorum 6pp; Books and Antiquities 13pp; Antoninus Itinerary 6pp; General Heads 3pp;… Read More

London: John Nichols, 1790 This is part of the material gathered by John Nichols for his outstanding 4 volume work The History of Leicestershire. There are numerous different collations for this work, with some sections available separately. This volume consists of the complete Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the Town and County of Leicester - with title page - it starts at page 421 to 592. Pages 1 to 426 (there is an overlap) are the History of Hinckley and The History of Aston Flamville which are not present. Pages 593 to 609 is Mr Carte's Account of Leicester. This is followed by lists of the Abbots if St Marys, Deans of Newark College leading in to Additional Collections for Leicestershire complete to page 1486. The book finishes with an index to page 1508. There is a lot of misnumbering but it is the complete Leicester Section. Superb condition with 52 plates and 3 maps. In fine full leather binding, ex-Libris Trevor Hickman who has published many books on Leicestershire.

London: Printed by J G for Nathanael Webb and William Grantham at the signe of the Bear in St Paul's Church-yard, 1654 A good copy in contemporary full pigskin with blind ruled lines to boards. The pages have been cropped so the margins and gutter are quite small and the book is slightly bowed as if it has been held or kept in a pocket for ease of reference. It is certainly an entertaining read. Thomas Hall (circa 1610-1665) was a Presbyterian and, at the time of publication, was Pastor of Kingsnorton. His congregation dismissed him at the Restoration - and if his sermons resembled his writing, it is easy to imagine why. A small sample: 'Lastly, as no man may weare his owne haire excessively long, so he may not weare the long haire of another, be it of a man, a woman, or it may be of some harlot, who is now in Hell, lamenting there the abuse of that excrement'. The binding is sound, with a area of leather loss at the bottom of the spine and light general wear. Contents with title (blank verso); poems… Read More

London: Printed by W Bulmer and Co, for George Nicol, and to the Board of Agriculture; and sold by Messrs. Robinson; J Sewell; Cadell and Davies; W Creech; and J Archer, 1797 A good to very good set of 4 volumes in contemporary quarter leather with marbled boards. Packed with articles, letters and notes on developments in agriculture, estate management, roads and vehicles in Britain and elsewhere at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Numerous plates of estate plans, machinery, cottage styles, boundary styles etc. Interesting to note that this is contemporary with Jane Austen and provides a detailed background to the management of the great estates and the roads and means of transport referred to in her work. The bindings have raised bands with gilt lining to spine and red title labels. Vol I has a volume label; the remaining 3 have lost theirs. The corners look to be reinforced with a form of parchment. All have some wear at spine ends, with rubbing at the joints and turning to corners. Light… Read More

London: Printed at the Logographic Press, by J Walter and sold by J Robson and T Longman, 1786 A fair to good copy in contemporary tree calf binding. Classed as 'fair' largely because the binding is splitting at the spine joints, particularly the front joint and there is some damage to the top of the spine. The spine has gilt compartments and title label. It is slightly darkened. Boards are clean with a ? water mark on the back board. There is scuffing and wear to edges and corners with leather loss. Contents: initial blank; half title; title; dedication 4pp; subscriber list pp 11-22; introduction 3 pp; text pp 27-68 with 3 plates, 1 folding; appendices x 3 pp 1 - 197; Finis; a 'ps' of additions pp 198-199; directions to binder 1p. There are some old burn marks and the occasional spot. The text is generally toned, but clean. The plates are browned with some offsetting to text.